The Only Zeppelin Song I Need

I don't know how I'm gonna tell you
I can't play with you no more...

So I'm sitting on the beach, my family diverted by sand castles and gossip rags, and I'm listening to my iPod. For me, there isn't a better attitude adjuster than strapping the headphones over my giant melon, hitting Shuffle (or, for that matter, clicking the fat Play button on the clunky Walkmen of my youth) and zoning out on the Coppertone action around me. My iPod, usually a thematically minded little sucker, is rather random on this Saturday: Herbie Hancock's Rockit, Ray Charles' Night Time Is the Right Time, A Flock of Seagulls' Space Age Love Song. A fine mix, but nothing spectacular.

But then I hear those acoustic strums, the burbling electric behind them, and Robert Plant, in full flower-powered peace-out hunky-as-hell mode, singing his existential dreamer about tolerance and forgiveness and the inevitableness of it all. Let me tell you, I was just about floored. I nearly starting sobbing, and I wasn't even drunk or stoned. That's the Way. THAT'S THE WAY! I've never been a huge Zeppelin fan (or a hippie), but jeez, at that moment, I was convinced That's the Way was the greatest song of all time. I'm not even sure why. Surrounded by my family and the sand and the waves and the nubiles frolicking in the surf, it just seemed...right.

I hear you, iPod. I hear you loud and clear.

And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers,
But all that lives is born to die.
And so I say to you that nothing really matters,
And all you do is stand and cry.   

Comments

[Mike]

That song gives me goosebumps. Great tune. Cameron Crowe wisely used it - amongst others - in "Almost Famous."

[Assless (but not Nippleless) Chaps]

Was Bonham sitting on your shoulders?
It's a great song by the greatest band. It's amazing how a song can do that to you every once in a while (it's often Zeppelin for me)while you are just driving or lounging. Glad you enjoyed the moment.

[bassnote]

Thanks for the post Sean. I had to listen to this song again, and then load it (and every other Zeppelin song I had) into my i-pod. Very beautiful song. I love when a song just grabs you out of the blue

[Gus]

I'm with Chaps. Great song and album. I grew up listening to Zep and have gotten away from them in the last few years. However, it is the moments like these, when you come back to the mighty "Led Zep" and listen to these songs again, that you remember how great an ensemble they were! Thanks Sean.